The memogate scandal has provoked questions about the influence of the civilian government in Pakistan and created the impression that the army is pulling the levers of power, Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar said in an interview with the BBC.
However, Khar added, it was “ridiculous” to link President Asif Ali Zardari with the controversial note. “Sadly it does. I cannot deny that, and that’s an unfortunate part that something as ludicrous as this could raise more questions.
“It doesn’t take much to be able to raise those questions,” Khar said. Asked if President Zardari would survive if he was linked to the scandal, Khar said, “I cannot even answer that question because it is ridiculous ... to associate him with this particular memo”.
The Pakistan government would conduct an inquiry “at the highest level” into the controversy to satisfy “all parties, all people, all constituencies who have raised concerns over this entire issue”, she said, adding, “We would hope that this is where it should and will stop.” It is “not yet clear” that Haqqani “had any role to play” in the matter. “He was asked to resign so the inquiry process could be transparent and that is something that should be appreciated,” Khar added.
In response to another question, Khar said Pakistan had not arranged any more meetings between the Haqqani network and US officials except one meeting that was held earlier this year. “Pakistan cannot guarantee anything [with regard to the Haqqani network]. We have said this very clearly. We can play a positive role but it has to be at the request of the Afghans,” she said.
Khar further said she was not worried about the risk of the US administration cutting off aid for Pakistan. “Let me just say clearly that we over project the dependency syndrome of Pakistan on US assistance. We could do without it. If the feeling in the US Congress is that we have done too much for Pakistan, the feeling in the Pakistani Parliament is that you’ve done too less.”
Published in The Express Tribune, November 27th, 2011.
COMMENTS (10)
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So Miss Khar you working for RIM (Research In Motion), Canada ? oh wait Eh' ?
@Moise: seems okay especially if we go through the history of ejaz mansoor---
Many are suffering from Zardari Phobia right from day one when he entered Presidency. Certainly there are some Angels behind this campaign.
With how messy it is I could think up a number of fairly convincing reasons he'd be involved and at the same time I could think up just as many for why he wouldn't be involved. The same could be said for anyone else implicated for the most part.
It'd probably be best to have one single official statement and then not respond to anything further outside official channels or in regard to new and valid evidence evidence. Continuous denials make people look suspicious, as if they aren't secure in their innocence and don't believe they were convincing enough the first time. It brings an air of weakness with it. Even if it's not actually there, people will respond with the feeling they get from it. You have to show confidence in your words if you want people to be confident in them as well.
I have no complaint against zardari..,.but against those...who vote for ppp in 2008.thanks god i did not vote...at least my conscience is clear...jab bijli aur petrol ka paisa bartaeen hain...people of pakistan curse those who voted for them.do you wanted to be cursed after the next election for the next 5 years...every day....the choice is yours....so go and vote and vote intelligently.
Strong words, interesting.
US is against Zardari now, he ticked them off when he visited Russia, China, Iran, Saudi Arabia to form a regional bloc, I am assuming with Army nod. For once he did something good and US doesnt like it at all.
One thing is sure that Hussain Haqqani is not so much courageous that he should dictate the memo as alleged by Mansoor Ijaz.
If the President Asif Ali Zardari has not given him the instructions that there must be some one else who is closely working with the Presidency who has passed on the message and probably Hussain Haqqani must have taken his words as granted.
One need to check minutely if that particular message or memo has not been conveyed to Hussain Haqqani by his wife? We look to go through beyond any common imagination.
Ok madame, as you say. Can you also tell the Nation who ever else is in a Position to Promise the Americans all concessions that the Memo promised. The next General elections are approaching. Last time it was PMLQ, now PPP is it going to be PTI next time?